--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've played for England and at one stage…" description: "\"I've played for England and at one stage I was the first-choice centre forward because I played in four or five qualifiers in a row.\" — Darren Bent" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/173/darren-bent-6427_england_i-ve-played-for-england-and-at-one-stage_107268.jpg" --- # I've played for England and at one stage I was the… ![“I've played for England and at one stage I was the first-choice centre forward because I played in four or five qualifiers in a row.” quote by Darren Bent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/173/darren-bent-6427_england_i-ve-played-for-england-and-at-one-stage_107268.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/173/darren-bent-6427_england_i-ve-played-for-england-and-at-one-stage_107268.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/173/darren-bent-6427_england_i-ve-played-for-england-and-at-one-stage_107268.jpg) > “I've played for England and at one stage I was the first-choice centre forward because I played in four or five qualifiers in a row.” [Darren Bent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-bent/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The player recounts a period when he was England’s top striker, highlighted by consecutive qualifier appearances. **In simple terms:** I was England’s first‑choice striker for several qualifiers. Key Takeaway Consistent selection signals peak performance. Themes sports career achievement selection Mood proud reflective Type sports memoir When to use this quote - discussing a footballer’s career highlights - evaluating player form for scouting - celebrating national team milestones Key Concepts performance consistency Practical Applications - use qualifier streaks to negotiate contracts - highlight consistency in player profiles Questions to Reflect On - How does a string of appearances affect a player’s reputation? - What pressures accompany being a first‑choice striker? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [England](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/england/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) ## Related quotes > [You think about all the positions Rooney got asked to play. He played everywhere. You forget how good he was. So to say Harry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-bent/you-think-about-all-the-positions-rooney-got-asked-to-play-he-played/) [Darren Bent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-bent/) > [When Luka joined Spurs, the first thing you noticed was his technique. I had played against him for England but when you watched him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-bent/when-luka-joined-spurs-the-first-thing-you-noticed-was-his-technique/) [Darren Bent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-bent/) > [I'm a centre forward and if I put the ball in the net off my back, my shoulder, my backside, an overhead kick, whatever,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-carroll/i-m-a-centre-forward-and-if-i-put-the-ball-in-the-net-off-my-back-my/) [Andy Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-carroll/) > [In Holland, I have got the buzz back playing as a centre-forward, which is where I perform best. Ajax always appealed to me from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bojan-krkic/in-holland-i-have-got-the-buzz-back-playing-as-a-centre-forward-which/) [Bojan Krkic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bojan-krkic/) > [Klopp helped me play my favourite position again - centre-forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-emerick-aubameyang/klopp-helped-me-play-my-favourite-position-again-centre-forward/) [Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-emerick-aubameyang/) > [The majority of the time having first touches, when the ball comes to you, you're normally free so you've got time to control, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michail-antonio/the-majority-of-the-time-having-first-touches-when-the-ball-comes-to/) [Michail Antonio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michail-antonio/) > [He's not just the best centre-forward in the British Isles, but the only one. (about Ian St John)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-shankly/he-s-not-just-the-best-centre-forward-in-the-british-isles-but-the/) [Bill Shankly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-shankly/) > [I like the position as a centre-forward in the box, in the penalty area, to push into the front aggressively, to score goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kai-havertz/i-like-the-position-as-a-centre-forward-in-the-box-in-the-penalty/) [Kai Havertz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kai-havertz/) > [I'm happy to play as a centre forward or a second striker, like in the national team with Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-forlan/i-m-happy-to-play-as-a-centre-forward-or-a-second-striker-like-in-the/) [Diego Forlan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-forlan/) > [I've always said it, and the whole football world knows that Cavani is a centre-forward and that he has proven his worth in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edinson-cavani/i-ve-always-said-it-and-the-whole-football-world-knows-that-cavani-is/) [Edinson Cavani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edinson-cavani/) > [There is one thing that will never change in football. The centre forward is only as good as the people that are giving him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-merson/there-is-one-thing-that-will-never-change-in-football-the-centre/) [Paul Merson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-merson/) > [As a young centre-forward, if I'm to look along the line of top centre-forwards, I would look at Robert Lewandowski and study his game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-calvert-lewin/as-a-young-centre-forward-if-i-m-to-look-along-the-line-of-top-centre/) [Dominic Calvert-Lewin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-calvert-lewin/) > [I wasn't your average striker because I didn't play as an out-and-out centre-forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-kempes/i-wasn-t-your-average-striker-because-i-didn-t-play-as-an-out-and-out/) [Mario Kempes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-kempes/) > [I'm a centre forward, and that is my preferred position. But I'll play on the wing or in midfield, wherever the manager wants me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-welbeck/i-m-a-centre-forward-and-that-is-my-preferred-position-but-i-ll-play/) [Danny Welbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-welbeck/) > [As a kid I always wanted to be a centre-forward. I wanted the buzz and thrill of scoring goals from an early age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-shearer/as-a-kid-i-always-wanted-to-be-a-centre-forward-i-wanted-the-buzz-and/) [Alan Shearer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-shearer/) ## More by Darren Bent > [I think Brendan Rodgers as a coach and a manager is absolutely superb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-bent/i-think-brendan-rodgers-as-a-coach-and-a-manager-is-absolutely-superb/) [Darren Bent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-bent/) > [Peter Crouch's record for England is second to none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-bent/peter-crouch-s-record-for-england-is-second-to-none/) [Darren Bent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-bent/) > [I guess sometimes things just fit and other times they don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-bent/i-guess-sometimes-things-just-fit-and-other-times-they-don-t/) [Darren Bent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-bent/) > [I've had to adapt from playing every week to having to fight for my place, but I don't mind that if I become a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-bent/i-ve-had-to-adapt-from-playing-every-week-to-having-to-fight-for-my/) [Darren Bent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-bent/) > [The game is all about dealing with challenges and that is what I try to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-bent/the-game-is-all-about-dealing-with-challenges-and-that-is-what-i-try/) [Darren Bent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-bent/) > [When you meet up with England, you can feel tense and think to yourself: 'Where's that goal going to come from?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-bent/when-you-meet-up-with-england-you-can-feel-tense-and-think-to/) [Darren Bent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-bent/) > [A footballer's life can be a bit lonely at times but you have to keep going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-bent/a-footballer-s-life-can-be-a-bit-lonely-at-times-but-you-have-to-keep/) [Darren Bent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-bent/) > [I can't sulk and not pull my weight - then I could be even further away from the first team than I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-bent/i-can-t-sulk-and-not-pull-my-weight-then-i-could-be-even-further-away/) [Darren Bent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-bent/) > [I'm a big basketball fan and my team is the Cleveland Cavaliers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-bent/i-m-a-big-basketball-fan-and-my-team-is-the-cleveland-cavaliers/) [Darren Bent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-bent/) > [Look at Salah's numbers - they're ridiculous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-bent/look-at-salah-s-numbers-they-re-ridiculous/) [Darren Bent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-bent/) > [My dads a big Chelsea man, so I used to go and watch them a lot too, because he would take me, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-bent/my-dads-a-big-chelsea-man-so-i-used-to-go-and-watch-them-a-lot-too/) [Darren Bent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-bent/) > [You don't get everything your own way when you are a professional footballer, and neither should you expect to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-bent/you-don-t-get-everything-your-own-way-when-you-are-a-professional/) [Darren Bent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-bent/) > [Ian Wright was my big hero.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-bent/ian-wright-was-my-big-hero/) [Darren Bent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-bent/) > [When I left London and my parents split up it crushed me, to be honest. It was really, really hard for me. I remember…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-bent/when-i-left-london-and-my-parents-split-up-it-crushed-me-to-be-honest/) [Darren Bent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-bent/) > [Aston Villa is a massive club and I always want to play for huge clubs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-bent/aston-villa-is-a-massive-club-and-i-always-want-to-play-for-huge-clubs/) [Darren Bent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-bent/) [Explore all 99 Darren Bent quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-bent/) ## More England quotes > [Forcing modern speakers of English to not - whoops, not to split an infinitive because it isn't done in Latin makes about as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/forcing-modern-speakers-of-english-to-not-whoops-not-to-split-an/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [I did not know that the planning for biological and chemical warfare was so widespread in England, and even in France before France fell.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholson-baker/i-did-not-know-that-the-planning-for-biological-and-chemical-warfare/) [Nicholson Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholson-baker/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [I'm from Europe, England, and I actually lived in Italy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adewale-akinnuoye-agbaje/i-m-from-europe-england-and-i-actually-lived-in-italy/) [Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adewale-akinnuoye-agbaje/) > [If I had been an Italian I am sure that I should have been whole-heartedly with you from the start to finish in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/if-i-had-been-an-italian-i-am-sure-that-i-should-have-been-whole/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [“This spending of the best part of one's life earning money in order to enjoy a questionable liberty during the least valuable part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/this-spending-of-the-best-part-of-one-s-life-earning-money-in-order/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > ['Downton Abbey' is my worst nightmare. I just hate that whole 'Upstairs Downstairs' thing, I think it's really lazy and it doesn't represent England,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-payne/downton-abbey-is-my-worst-nightmare-i-just-hate-that-whole-upstairs/) [Tom Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-payne/) > [Although I don't have anything against people from other countries, the higher the influx into England the more the British identity disappears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/although-i-don-t-have-anything-against-people-from-other-countries/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [These fledgling democracies in the Middle East, they're actually fighting for their freedom. And what are they rioting for in England? Leisurewear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-gallagher/these-fledgling-democracies-in-the-middle-east-they-re-actually/) [Noel Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-gallagher/) > [In the olden days in England, you could be hung for stealing a sheep or a loaf of bread. However, if a sheep stole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-harding/in-the-olden-days-in-england-you-could-be-hung-for-stealing-a-sheep/) [Mike Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-harding/) > [“Of France and England, did this king succeed; Whose state so many had the managing. That they lost France and made his England bleed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/of-france-and-england-did-this-king-succeed-whose-state-so-many-had/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [In my view, fitness training isn't that important in England, as they all train with such intensity anyway and have a competitive edge when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudio-ranieri/in-my-view-fitness-training-isn-t-that-important-in-england-as-they/) [Claudio Ranieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudio-ranieri/) > [England expects every man to do his duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horatio-nelson/england-expects-every-man-to-do-his-duty/) [Horatio Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horatio-nelson/) [Browse all 4,190 England quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/england/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've played for England and at one stage I was the first-choice centre forward because I played in four or five qualifiers in a row.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Darren Bent" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-bent/i-ve-played-for-england-and-at-one-stage-i-was-the-first-choice/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "England" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-bent/i-ve-played-for-england-and-at-one-stage-i-was-the-first-choice/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/173/darren-bent-6427_england_i-ve-played-for-england-and-at-one-stage_107268.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/173/darren-bent-6427_england_i-ve-played-for-england-and-at-one-stage_107268.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/173/darren-bent-6427_england_i-ve-played-for-england-and-at-one-stage_107268.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I've played for England and at one stage I was the first-choice centre forward because I played in four or…” — Darren Bent", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Darren Bent", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-bent/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I've played for England and at...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-bent/i-ve-played-for-england-and-at-one-stage-i-was-the-first-choice/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-bent/i-ve-played-for-england-and-at-one-stage-i-was-the-first-choice/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```